Public vs. Private Cord Blood Banking

Public cord blood banking involves donating your baby's umbilical cord blood to a registry where it becomes available for anyone in need of a stem cell transplant. It’s free and helps the wider community. Private cord blood banking means paying to store your baby’s cord blood exclusively for your family's future use; it offers immediate access if needed but is generally costly and less likely to be used. The choice depends on personal, medical, and financial considerations, balancing the potential benefits of private storage against the broader availability provided by public donation.